January 7, 2012

A Race a Month // January

Before: It was a really early race, had to be up at 6 am to stretch and hydrate. I was really nervous about beating my last results, since I had just run a 5k back in December with no training.

1st mile: 8:05 I felt really good and it was hard not to run faster, but I kept telling myself the people sprinting ahead of me couldn't keep that up the whole race.

2nd mile: 8:43 There was like half a mile uphill. I passed a lot of people on it, but I still felt like I was running in wet cement. I focused on this nine/ten year old boy ahead of me and promised myself not to let me get too far ahead.

3rd mile: 8:24 I kept with that kid and he started picking up the pace, I kinda felt like a creeper. Then there was another leg of uphill and I passed him and about 10 other people. I never got passed after mile 2. I knew the finish line was coming but I just kept a pace I knew I could manage.

The Last .10: I could see the finish line and there were these two runners trying to block me out of the shoot (I'm in pink). I didn't know I could run so fast, I booked it and passed them both. I'm usually the worst finisher, I never have the energy to sprint, but I sprinted like I've never sprinted before. My watch told me I ran the last .10 at a 6:41 pace, hahahhahah. So HAPPY!

After: I kinda felt like I might just pass out of happiness when my mom told me my time was 26:03. I couldn't believe it. In one month I cut off over a minute (27:19 - Dec '11). I waited around for the awards and placed 3rd in my 20-24 age group. Just the amount of motivation I need for this last month of half marathon training. So excited!!